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Explorations in Brioche Knitting

Bring luscious texture and stunning, reversible patterns to your knitting. Nancy Marchant, the Queen of Brioche, shows how to master this European stitch.

Master the versatile, reversible European stitch known as brioche. Knit along with Nancy as you learn the basic brioche stitches, increases and decreases, then cast on to create the deliciously textured one-color Jacki scarf or the stunningly patterned two-color Alex scarf. Patterns and charts are included!

Lesson 1. Introduction

Lesson 2. One-Color Brioche

Lesson 3. The One-Color Jacki Scarf

Master the Italian cast-on, then knit this elegant one-color scarf using increases and decreases to create a zigzag pattern.

31:43

Lesson 4. Two-Color Brioche

Add a new dimension to your brioche knitting by using two colors. You'll learn how to use the Italian cast-on and how to use syncopation to highlight colors.

20:12

Lesson 5. Two-Color Increases, Decreases & Bind-Offs

Use increases and decreases to create intricate patterns in your two-colo knitting, then learn how to bind off for a clean edge.

36:29

Lesson 6. The Two-Color Alex Scarf

Beautiful leaves cascade across this stunning scarf that Nancy will show you how to knit.

7:43

Lesson 7. Brioche in the Round

Here are some helpful hints to use when making hats, mittens or socks in brioche, whether one color or two.

20:59

Lesson 8. Troubleshooting & Tips

Learn how to pick up dropped stitches, fix decreases that face the wrong way and recover a whole row should your needle pull out. Get tips on adding new yarn, working with larger pieces and blocking.

27:22

Lesson 9. Reading a Brioche Chart

Learn to read a brioche chart to make it easier to follow a pattern.

30:23

Lesson 10. Brioche Variations

Delve into brioche variations, including stockinette, honeycomb and syncopated brioche.

"I bought Nancy Marchant's book a few years ago but felt too intimidated of this style to give it a shot. Though her book is excellent, I learn so much better when seen in action, as opposed to still shots, so I was very happy to see her featured here on Craftsy! With her clear demonstrations, I picked up the method very quickly. Her style is straightforward and even-paced. She covers everything including how to fix mistakes, blocking, etc. You can tell she is a Brioche Master! Great class!" - pollyfoofoonew england

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Lesson plan

6:57

Lesson 1. Introduction

Meet Nancy Marchant, the Queen of Brioche knitting.

28:13

Lesson 2. One-Color Brioche

Learn the basic concepts and stitches of brioche knitting.

31:30

Lesson 3. The One-Color Jacki Scarf

Master the Italian cast-on, then knit this elegant one-color scarf using increases and decreases to create a zigzag pattern.

31:43

Lesson 4. Two-Color Brioche

Add a new dimension to your brioche knitting by using two colors. You'll learn how to use the Italian cast-on and how to use syncopation to highlight colors.

20:12

Lesson 5. Two-Color Increases, Decreases & Bind-Offs

Use increases and decreases to create intricate patterns in your two-colo knitting, then learn how to bind off for a clean edge.

36:29

Lesson 6. The Two-Color Alex Scarf

Beautiful leaves cascade across this stunning scarf that Nancy will show you how to knit.

7:43

Lesson 7. Brioche in the Round

Here are some helpful hints to use when making hats, mittens or socks in brioche, whether one color or two.

20:59

Lesson 8. Troubleshooting & Tips

Learn how to pick up dropped stitches, fix decreases that face the wrong way and recover a whole row should your needle pull out. Get tips on adding new yarn, working with larger pieces and blocking.

27:22

Lesson 9. Reading a Brioche Chart

Learn to read a brioche chart to make it easier to follow a pattern.

30:23

Lesson 10. Brioche Variations

Delve into brioche variations, including stockinette, honeycomb and syncopated brioche.

The instructor

Nancy Marchant, Instructor of Explorations in Brioche Knitting

The “Queen of Brioche,” Nancy Marchant, first encountered and fell in love with brioche stitch when she moved to the Netherlands in 1976. Since then, she has spread brioche to knitters far and wide, at events both large and small. Nancy has written for several publications, including Vogue Knitting, and is the proud author of two brioche books, Knitting Brioche and Knitting Fresh Brioche. She also maintains a website on the subject: www.briochestitch.com.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(62 reviews)

Do This Brioche Class First!

by EddieB on June 7, 2015

I started with Nancy's other class and had so many problems trying to "get it right".

This class includes how to fix your problems, I haven't watched that yet, but I had to work out how to do it and used the lace technique of adding a safety line, to which I have been undone my knitting and not worrying about the mistakes on the edges, however Nancy seems to explain everything in more details in this class as well as starting you off in one colour rather than two!

I started with Nancy's other class and had so many problems trying to "get it right".

This class includes how to fix your problems, I haven't watched that yet, but I had to work out how to do it and used the lace technique of adding a safety line, to which I have been undone my knitting and not worrying about the mistakes on the edges, however Nancy seems to explain everything in more details in this class as well as starting you off in one colour rather than two!

I have had lots of practice at starting and restarting.

Nancy's classes are excellent, it is a tricky technique that needs concentration to start with and probably ongoing. Love the effects, can't wait to try these two scarves, Fter I finish my keyhole checkered scarf!

Pay Attention !!!

Excellent !so far I'm happy ,my instructor is awesome ,I need to make her proud ,I need more practice on this class and then I will move to another class ,I was so excited about brioche knit.

Excellent !so far I'm happy ,my instructor is awesome ,I need to make her proud ,I need more practice on this class and then I will move to another class ,I was so excited about brioche knit.

Not for the timid but recommended

by ZoeOB on May 16, 2015

If you think you're an experienced knitter, this class will shock you. (It did for me.) After a few tries (and remembering that a stitch with its yarnover is ONE stitch), everything fell into place. Yes, Nancy does speak a little quicker than most and may correct herself, but it didn't bother me. Actually, it reminded me of my mom who would teach me by saying "just watch me and do it!". Turning the audio off and carefully observing what she was doing as well as using the 30 second ...

If you think you're an experienced knitter, this class will shock you. (It did for me.) After a few tries (and remembering that a stitch with its yarnover is ONE stitch), everything fell into place. Yes, Nancy does speak a little quicker than most and may correct herself, but it didn't bother me. Actually, it reminded me of my mom who would teach me by saying "just watch me and do it!". Turning the audio off and carefully observing what she was doing as well as using the 30 second repeat, stopping and starting at key points did it for me. Her website has also been great for learning the trickier bits and exploring this technique in more depth (http://www.briochestitch.com). Thanks, Nancy. I hope to take one of your in-person classes someday.

Brioche never looked so easy!

by Jenni Melander on April 28, 2015

I bought both of Nancy's books, and while I thought the explanations in the books were well done, actually doing a project was very intimidating. I decided to take the class and have not been disappointed. The projects that were so scary looking in the book are now easy to understand. I love it when a pattern is so intuitive that I don't need to tote around the pattern anymore, and I felt both patterns in the class became that way quickly. I loved the last few lessons especially. I felt ...

I bought both of Nancy's books, and while I thought the explanations in the books were well done, actually doing a project was very intimidating. I decided to take the class and have not been disappointed. The projects that were so scary looking in the book are now easy to understand. I love it when a pattern is so intuitive that I don't need to tote around the pattern anymore, and I felt both patterns in the class became that way quickly. I loved the last few lessons especially. I felt like I gained some bonus skills in those. I could now make up my own patterns because I understand the mechanics better of both the charts and other stitches. Nancy was quick to respond to any postings we made, which I appreciated. This was my first craftsy class ever and I will definitely be coming back for more.

Excellent

by mz33721102791 on April 22, 2015

Can't be more pleased with this class. It went over and beyond expectations! Very good explained and straight to the point. I have already come legend a knit brioche scarf. Have to watch again the bind off but is very clear to me.

Can't be more pleased with this class. It went over and beyond expectations! Very good explained and straight to the point. I have already come legend a knit brioche scarf. Have to watch again the bind off but is very clear to me.